Parish Council meeting 7th February 2022

No questions from the public. The Chair did ask Cllr P Jones if he could explain why the Planning Department were paying a private consultant to make planning decisions. Cllr P Jones said he was unaware of this and would look into it Action: Cllr P Jones

No reports.

Cllr J Lawson. Cllr J Pert (SCC) (SBC)

None

C/F 22/05 Clerk still to write in support for O/16 transport.

22/07 Clerk wrote to Case Officer re 21/35134/FUL opposing the application.

22/09 Ditch reported again, reply received treated as “non urgent”.

C/F Clerk in the process of requesting gullies being emptied and roads swept. Error on Server unable to report.

22/11 Meeting arranged between Cllr’s and P Lees for 2pm on 11^th March 2022 in St Luke’s Church Hall.

22/12 Flyers distributed.

22/14 Clerk replied to correspondence.

Resolved: The minutes of the meeting held on 10^th January 2022 were accepted as a true record of the meeting. The Chair signed a copy of the minutes.

No decisions made since last meeting.

PAR 21/35006/HOU at Waterstone Barn Lower Heamies Farm proposed aluminium veranda with glass roof panels attached to the side of house (11m wide x 3.5m deep). The application was discussed. No objections from the Cllr’s. A consideration to be aware of the weight limit on the railway bridge was noted. Action: Clerk to write to the Case Officer.

NatWest Balance at 25^th January 2022           £5976.81    

Invoice for Wel Medical Defib Cabinet                  £478.80

Clerks February salary                                          £163.24

Invoice for Avdec website hosting and

Domain name                                                        £180.00

Un presented cheque HMRC                                £281.57

Balance                                                               £4873.20

Training (18/02/22)for Cllr Edge awaiting invoice   £30.00

 Awaiting invoice for defib cabinet fitting costs. (Approx cost £80 to £100). Cabinet due to be fitted Wed 9^th February 2022.

VAT refund claim submitted to HMRC from 12^th Aug 2018 to 31^st March 2021 no reply received as yet. (£1175)

Resolved: All payments approved.               

An email has been received from a member of the public regarding providing a foot path between Blurton Lane and Hilcote Crossroads. The Cllr’s agreed to support the request by writing to Highways and passing the details onto Eccleshall’s Parish Clerk to see if Eccleshall Parish Council would also support the request. Action Clerk.

Concerns were raised about the volume and speed of traffic passing through Norton Bridge when the motorway is closed. HGV’s are ignoring the weight limit signs and using the road as a through route. It was agreed to add to the agenda for the meeting with P. Lees. The Cllr’s also agreed to request signs should be put in place saying “Unsuitable for HGV’S”. The Clerk will contact Highways and cc Cllr J Pert into the email. Action Clerk.

Concerns were raised that the ditch at Searchlight Lane ,Shallowford Bank is extremely dangerous “An accident waiting to happen” The ditch has been reported twice now and received a “non urgent” rating. The Clerk will write to Highways again and cc Cllr J Pert into the email. The ditch will also be an item on the agenda for the meeting with P. Lees. Action Clerk.

Cllr B Jones has been doing some research into the project, looking at how other Parish Councils are approaching the subject. Kris Douglas is liaising with BT.

During January it is reported that approval has been given for the section of high speed rail between Crewe and Manchester. This stretch of railway will join to the line between Birmingham and Crewe (HS2a) that passes through the Stone area.
The SRCG continues to lobby the HS2 minister, via local MP Sir William Cash, to reconsider locating the Infrastructure and Maintenance Rail Base (IMRB) around the Yarnfield Lane to Stafford Services area. Extensive work on providing an alternative plan for HS2 to build the IMBR at Aldersley Rough, near Madelely, has been completed by SRCG and submitted to the minister for scrutiny. The SRCG proposal indicates that substantial cost savings and lower traffic disruption could be achieved by adopting the alternative site. It is hoped that members of the SRCG will meet with the relevant parties to discuss the subject in detail.
HS2 Ltd has recently announced that work is about to commence on altering the M6 Jct 16 road layout at Hanchurch, in order to facilitate truck movements for the construction phase of HS2. This will likely impact traffic flows in the area for some considerable time. HS2 Ltd has also indicated that the ground test drilling projects, around Cold Norton, Yarnfield and Swynnerton, are about complete. It is not known what will be published as a result, but the outcome will in part determine the level of local traffic movement required during the build period. ( Cllr B Jones)

The Chair thanked Cllr B Jones for continuing to keep the Cllr’s updated.

Ideas for HS2 Funding

Traffic calming, Defibrillator for Lower Heamies, help with cost of Broadband for the Parish.

Cllr B Jones to give the Clerk details of contacts to find out further information.

An invitation for tenders was discussed. It was agreed that the tender should be for 14 cuts and removal of grass at Norton Bridge recreation area, for the period April to October 2022. The Clerk will write to Oak Tree Farm, Street Scene, SJL Landscapes and Trent Grass. Cllr P. Jones (SBC) suggested the Clerk contact Eccleshall’s Parish Clerk for suggestions of local companies known to Eccleshall. Action Clerk

It was agreed that the tenders should be received by the end of February, beginning of March so they can be discussed at the next meeting on 7^th March 2022.

The emails received giving ideas for the celebrations were discussed. The Cllr’s decided that a tree with a commemorative plaque should be planted in each hamlet, a Beacon to be lit on 2^nd June, and a Cream Tea to be held on 11th June 2022. Cllr M Ainsworth-Hickman will look into funding for the events. Action Cllr M Ainsworth-Hickman. The Clerk will write to all the people who submitted ideas thanking them and letting them know the decisions of the Cllr’s. Action Clerk.

The Standing Orders and Financial Regulations were reviewed. It was agreed that Cllr B Jones will carry out a quarterly Financial reconciliation. A plan for expenditure and planning will also be discussed.

SBC re provisional dates for Civic Amenities visits, to be confirmed with times.

Nemisis Fireworks promotional email.

Email from Mr J Pemberton regarding Local History, emails circulated to Cllr’s.

Email re poster for Stafford in the World, posters displayed on the notice boards.

Update on Jubilee funding. Update on Broadband. Discuss tenders received. Discuss HS2 funding